Combination ash tray, flower and candle holder



Sept. 30, 1947. 1 J. J ENSEN 2,428,116 I COMBINATION ASH TRAY; FLOWER,AND CANDLE HOLDER Filed.Nov. 9, 1944 Y 990 000-000 Jeny O OOO O"OOOBY."QQ-QQQQOO I Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICECOMBINATION ASH TRAY, FLOWER AND:

CANDLE HOLDER Y Jens Jensen, Englewood,

Application November 9, 1944, Serial No 562,732

My invention relates generally to an ash tray or ash receiver, and ithas particular relation to an ash tray or ash receiver that may also beused as a combination flower and candle holder.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel ash tray or ashreceiver which is simple in construction. efficient in operation andpleasing in appearance; which will present a clean top surface andsanitary appearance at all-times; and which will prevent ashes depositedtherein from being blown out when the same is placed or being used in aposition that is exposed to strongvcurrents of air as when'being usedout of doors on a porch or veranda.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ash tray orreceiver which may also be used as an ornamental flower and candleholder whereby the flowers and candle may be arranged in a suitableornamental effect and will be capable of maintaining such arrangementand effect even when exposed to strong currents of air, etc.

Various other and further objects and advantages of the invention, whichresult in simplicityQ economy and eiflciency, will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, wherein a preferred form of embodimentof the invention is shown, reference being had for illustrative purposesto the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein likenumbers indicate like parts, in which:

Fig. l is a topplan view of the assembled container made in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal sectional view of the assembled container shownin Fig. 1, the same being taken substantiall alon the line 22 thereof,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled container shown inFig. l, the same being taken substantially along the line 3--3 thereof,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the assembled container shownin Fig. 1, the same being taken substantially along the line 4-4thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the tubular insert member, which, incooperation with the top cover plate, functions as a holder for flowersand a candle; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the tubular insert member shown in Fig.5.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l the invention inassembled form, comprising an open top container l0 made ofvany suitablerust-proof or rust-resisting metal, having 3 Claims. 01. 47-41) a closedbottom ll,-upstanding side walls I2 and curved end walls I3 It willbeunderstood that the container I 0 may be made in various other sizes andshapes, and that glass, plastic, crockery or like materials may besubstituted for metal, if desired, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

A series of longitudinally spaced protuberances or lugs M'Iare formedintermediate each of the upstanding side walls [2 of the container l0.These protuberances I4, when the article is made from metal, may beformed by indenting the outer surfaces thereofinwardly, or in the eventthe container is being made out of glass, plastic, etc., by molding.They. are arranged in a single horizontal plane andare adapted toserveas supporting meansfor a tubular insert member l5.

. A second series of similarly formed protuberances or lugs I6 areprovided on the inner surfaces of theupstanding end walls l3, as bestshown in Fig.2, adjacent the upper edge thereof, and are adapted toserve as supporting means for a removable top cover plate IT.

The tubular insert member l5 consists of a bottom plate [8, having arelatively large central opening I 9 therethroughprovided with a seriesof circumferentially spaced upstanding ribs or projections 21 adjacentthe edges thereof. These projections 2| are shown as being struck upfrom the plate when the opening I9 was formed, forming a series of smallarcuate and radial flanges 22 therebetween, The remaining surface of thebottom plate is is provided with a series of spaced perforations orsmall openings 23 arranged in rows transversely and longitudinallythereof. The bottom plate l8 has formed integrally therewith upstandingside walls 24, which are suitably connected across their open top by aseries of transversely extending ribs or wires 25 spacedlongitudinally'thereof." The pair of rib or wires 25 immediately abovethe large central opening 19, as best shown in Fig. 5, are bent, asindicated at 26, to forma circular opening 21, which is alignedvertically with the bottom opening I9,

The removable top or cover plate i1 is of a size and shape adapted toflt snugly within the open top of the container Ill and rest upon theend supporting lugs 16. It'is provided with an ornamental solid platformportion 3| centrally thereof, which in the embodiment shown issubstantially in the form of across, having a large circular centralopening 32 therethrough in vertical alignment withthe openings [9 and 21of the tubular insert l5 when assembled. The inner surface of theopening 32 has a series of small teeth-like radial projections 28 spacedcircumferentially thereof and formed integrally with the solid portion3| for engaging the sides of a candle when the same is positionedtherein. The remaining surface of the top cover plate H is stamped outto form a series of longitudinal slots 33 and ribs 34 arrangedalternately and transversely thereof. The material cut from the surfaceof the plate IT to form the slots 33 is bent inwardly on opposite sidesof the ribs 34, torming integral obliquely and downwardly extendingflanges, as indicated at 36, providing a trough-like opening through theslots 33. The slots or openings 33 between adjacent ribs :34 are notwide enough to permit a cigarette to fall therethrough', as indicated at35 and best shown in-Eigfi.

In assembling the container Ill, one end of the tubular insert member I5is first positioned on its side supporting lugs I4, and the opposite endmay then be forced or sprung over the adjacent end supporting lugs I6until the bottom plate I8 is resting horizontally'on-all of itssupporting lugs I4. The tubular insert member i5 is then more or lesslocked in between the spaced lugs I l and I6. However, if the insertmember IS-should be constructed of glass, plastic, crockery, etc., itmay not be possible to'springit past the end lug I6 in which eventsuitable notches will have to be molded therein for clearance purposes.The top cover plate I1 may now be positioned over the tubular insertmember l5. on its respective end supporting lugs I5. When it is desiredto dismantle the assembled article for cleaning purposes, the forefingermay be slipped-through the central opening 32 and the'top cover platelifted upwardly by theforefinger and thumb. The tubular insert I5 may beremoved in similar manner.

It will be apparent in using the article as an ash tray or ash receiverthat the ashes deposited on the top surface of the plate II will fallthrough the trough-like slts'33, passing through the wires or ribs 24forming the top of. the tubular insert I andthrough the apertures orperforations. 23 in the bottom plate I3 to the bottom .II of thecontainer I0. Manifestly. such ashes will be out of sightand also out ofreach of any strongcurrents of air passing over the top of the containerID. The solid platform portion 3|, which may be of any desired designandshape, is not only ornamental but also serves a useful. purpose. Itmay be used for snuifing out in the conventionalman her the lighted endsof cigarettes and cigars. The unlighted butts then may be discarded intothe container lIl through the opening 3h which,

being in vertical alignment withthe openings I9 and 21 of the tubularinsert l5, will permitthem' to drop to the bottom ll of the containerIll. The upstanding projections'll onthe top side of the bottom plate I8of the tubular insert I5 preventsvsuch butts from being lodged.between'the top and bottom plates of the insert I5.

When it is desired to use the article as a combination flower and candleholder, .the bottom of the container I0 may first be. partially filledwith water before assembling to provide moisture for the cut flowerstems. A candle 40., shown in dotted lines in Fig 2, may be positionedin the aligned openings 32, .21 and I9 until its bottom rests on theflanges 22 of the plate I 8.between the upright projections 2i In thisposition the radial projections 28 of thetopcover plate I! will engagethesides of the candle atapoint spaced upwardly from its bottom, thusholding the candle 40 in a fixed vertical position centrally of thecontainer I0. Flowers (not shown) may now be arranged around the candle40 in any suitable and pleasing arrangement, with their stems projectingdownwardly through the small rectangular top openings 39 formed by thelongitudinal bars 34 of the top plate I l and the transverse ribs 25forming the top of the insert I5 which now lie adjacent each other in asuperimposed position, through the perforations 23 of the bottom plateI8 until they are immersed in the water on the bottom I I of thecontainer 1 I The flowers will stand substantially vertically'if thestems are inserted through a perforation 23 that is vertically alignedwith the opening 39, but, if desired, may be arranged at a jaunty angleby passing the stems through one of the perforations 23 that is notvertically aligned with the opening 39.

Although I have only described and illustrated in detail one form whichthe invention may assume, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the same is notso limited, but that various modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or from thescope or-the' appended claims.

What I. claim is:

l. A new article of manufacture comprising an open top container havinginternal means intermediate its sidesand ends for supporting atubularinsert member, a removable tubular insert member having verticallyspaced means including vertically-aligned openings for receiving andholding the stems of flowers and a candle, and a removablecover plateadapted to fit over the top of said tubular insert member and close theopen top of said container, said top cover plate having a solid platformportion provided with an enlarged opening, the remaining surface of saidtop cover plate being divided into a series of alter her having ribsdividing its surface into a series of. slots extending in a' directiontransverse to the slotsof the top cover plate so, that when said articleis assembled these respective ribs and slots cooperate to form aseries-of small rectangular openings arranged in rows longitudinally andtransversely of the top cover plate, the bottom means of said tubularinsert member having a series of relatively small perforationstherethrough adapted to receive the stems of flowers.

2. The combination with an open top container having internal meansintermediate its sides for supporting a removableinsert member, saidinsert member having a series of spacedopenings in difierent horizontalplanes for engaging flower stems in diiferent vertical planesintermediate their ends and having vertically spaced and alignedopenings for receiving a candle, the lower candle receiving openinghaving meansfor engaging and supporting the bottom of said candle andmeans for engaging the sides of said candle at a point spaced from saidsupporting means for holding the same vertically therein, and aremovable top cover member adapted to fit on said having internal meansintermediate its sides for supporting a removable insert member, saidinsert member having a series of spaced openings in different horizontalplanes for engaging flower stems in different vertical planesintermediate their ends and having vertically spaced and alignedopenings for receiving a candle, the lower candle receiving openinghaving relatively long axial flanges for engaging the sides of saidcandle adjacent its bottom and the upper candle receiving opening havingrelatively short radial prongs for engaging the sides of said candle ata point spaced from its bottom for holding the same verticallytherebetween, and a removable top cover member adapted to fit on saidopen top container having candle receiving means aligned with the candlereceiving means of said insert member, said cover member being providedwith a series of spaced ribs having downwardly diverging flanges forminga plurality of narrow slots, said ribs being spaced apart a distancesuch as to support a cigarette therebetween as well as to permit flowerstems to pass therethrough,

